Thai junta leader General Prayuth Chan-ocha was elected prime minister in parliament on Thursday, the Associated Press reported. In a move that has been widely expected since he seized power in May, Southeast Asian nation's junta leader stepped out of his uniform to take up the post of prime minister.
Three months after overthrowing Thailand's last elected government, Prayuth was voted unanimously to the post by Thailand's junta-appointed legislature during a session in Bangkok on Thursday. Since he was the only candidate, there was little surprise over the outcome.
The vote was the latest in a series of moves by the junta to consolidate power on its own terms, with Prayuth effectively serving as de facto premier since staging the May 22 coup.
A live broadcast of the parliamentary session showed that Prayuth won at least half the votes, which is the required number needed to secure his nomination. However, his appointment will need to be officially approved by Thailand's king, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, a formality likely to occur within a week.
After months of unrest pitting supporters of ousted Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra against her Bangkok-based royalist opponents, the military said it took power to avoid further bloodshed and restore stability, according to Reuters.
The 60-year-old leader is due to retire from the army next month and the change appears aimed in part at keeping him at the helm as the military implements sweeping political reforms, Reuters reported.
In July, the military adopted a temporary 48-article constitution, which allows Prayuth to hold the premiership while still in the military. Shortly afterward, the junta appointed the assembly that is dominated by active and retired duty officers.
Thailand has been deeply divided since 2006, when former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra - Yingluck's brother - was toppled after being accused of corruption, abuse of power and disrespect for the king.
